Yosemite Lakes Thousand Trails Preserve (Check In)

Nicholas Blewett

**Edit to add** what a weak automatic (probably AI driven), non specific response from Thousand Trails. First of all, the staff was super pleasant to deal with at the front desk as well as the staff members we came across during the stay. There are areas of the RV park that are gorgeous. Spots by the creek looked great, and where we ended up eventually on a terrace was nice as well. The Valero/Camp Store had a good selection of things if you forgot something (we needed an additional length of sewer hose) The not great: We were originally placed in a site that by the time we deployed our slides, we were basically sharing the area outside our trailer with our neighbors. They alternate the direction of trailers on sites 144-177. It was so close that our neighbors had to move their picnic table so we could pull into our site. When we got out of the truck there was old food and debris left from whomever. Not sure if it was the adjacent campers or the previous tenants who had left that morning (obvious from the reservation papers still clipped to the power pedestal). The bad: Sites 144 through 159 are covered by a solar panel array that is 25ft off the ground. I can't think of anything that removes you from a nice "wilderness" oriented vacation than staring at a towering set of solar panels that would block views of the night sky. We were able to speak to the staff at the front desk and get moved away from the panels thankfully. The dangerous: While our new spot was in a great location, when we were setting up we plugged in our power cord and heard a crackling from the pedestal. Immediately disconnected power. The 15amp outlet was fine, and we had the correct adapters to get us through the night. We notified the front desk that night, the next night, and the next that the power pedestal wasn't functioning properly. Eventually a staff member came by the site asking if we were interested in becoming Thousand Trails members. We explained what was going on with the power pedestal and he suggested we use the adjacent site's power, which we did for the remainder of our stay. I don't think anyone ever came to check out the outlet that was crackling. One final tip, skip getting gas at the attached Valero and just fuel up at Crane Flat inside the park. Diesel was $1 cheaper per gallon.

Sandra Partrea

We stayed in the Yurt – Meadow (#26) at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes and wanted to share feedback that we hope management will take seriously. The location itself is a highlight. The convenience of having walking trails throughout the property is wonderful, and there are beautiful waterfalls within about a 5-mile radius, including Carlon Falls, which made exploring the area very enjoyable. The setting is peaceful, scenic, and close to nature. Check-in was efficient, though the front desk appeared understaffed, with one employee managing phones and a full lobby. Unfortunately, there were several maintenance and safety concerns. There was a strong gas smell inside the yurt, and the gas heater did not function properly, leaving the space very cold (often below 60°). A small portable heater was provided, but it was insufficient. The stove was heavily rusted, the pillows were in very poor condition, and hot water ran out quickly during showers. Conditioner was also not provided. Several advertised amenities were unusable or poorly maintained, including mini golf, volleyball, and tetherball. In the recreation center, the foosball and air hockey tables were broken, and the building itself was extremely cold (52° inside) with no way to adjust the temperature. Additionally, there was no ping pong table or dartboard available, despite these being shown on the property's virtual tour on its website. The virtual tour also shows three pool tables, but only two were available during our stay. The most concerning issue was safety. Two guests arriving around 9:30 PM were unable to reach any staff, their late check-in packet was not left out as expected, and the emergency radio didn’t work. This is unacceptable and potentially dangerous in an emergency situation. Additionally, one of the steps leading to our yurt was uneven and posed a fall risk, especially for children. We truly appreciated the natural beauty of the area and the easy access to trails and nearby waterfalls. Still, the number of broken or missing amenities, maintenance issues, and lack of after-hours support do not align with what is advertised. We hope management addresses these concerns promptly for the benefit of future guests.

Corinne Hendricks

The cabin we stayed in was kinda run down. It was pouring rain and it pooled into the cabin through an area near the door. The wood was black and rotted there so it’s been like that awhile. There was also pieces of wood missing in the flooring so it’s not exactly safe for toddlers either. There’s no cell service which means you need to go to the office when it’s open to ask for towels and things like that. Maybe it’s nicer in the summer time but it was quiet and cabins need updates and fixing up.

Antonio Orozco

I have been camping in this spot for a few years. I keep coming back for a reason. Beautiful place to relax with the family and friends. Great place to camp. They offer showers at this site which is a big plus! Overall, experience is always positive.

Nicholas Blewett

First of all, the staff was super pleasant to deal with at the front desk as well as the staff members we came across during the stay. There are areas of the RV park that are gorgeous. Spots by the creek looked great, and where we ended up eventually on a terrace was nice as well. The Valero/Camp Store had a good selection of things if you forgot something (we needed an additional length of sewer hose) The not great: We were originally placed in a site that by the time we deployed our slides, we were basically sharing the area outside our trailer with our neighbors. They alternate the direction of trailers on sites 144-177. It was so close that our neighbors had to move their picnic table so we could pull into our site. When we got out of the truck there was old food and debris left from whomever. Not sure if it was the adjacent campers or the previous tenants who had left that morning (obvious from the reservation papers still clipped to the power pedestal). The bad: Sites 144 through 159 are covered by a solar panel array that is 25ft off the ground. I can't think of anything that removes you from a nice "wilderness" oriented vacation than staring at a towering set of solar panels that would block views of the night sky. We were able to speak to the staff at the front desk and get moved away from the panels thankfully. The dangerous: While our new spot was in a great location, when we were setting up we plugged in our power cord and heard a crackling from the pedestal. Immediately disconnected power. The 15amp outlet was fine, and we had the correct adapters to get us through the night. We notified the front desk that night, the next night, and the next that the power pedestal wasn't functioning properly. Eventually a staff member came by the site asking if we were interested in becoming Thousand Trails members. We explained what was going on with the power pedestal and he suggested we use the adjacent site's power, which we did for the remainder of our stay. I don't think anyone ever came to check out the outlet that was crackling. One final tip, skip getting gas at the attached Valero and just fuel up at Crane Flat inside the park. Diesel was $1 cheaper per gallon.